Continue
Joe Cole appears a revitalised character after making the move to Lille in the summer and the on-loan Liverpool midfielder is still hoping that he can once again play for England.
The former Chelsea star was a regular for England for close to a decade and made appearances at three World Cups, before injuries and a loss of form meant he was ignored by Fabio Capello.
Now Cole is enjoying life in France and has admitted that he is still hopeful that Capello will take notice and that he could force his way back into the Italian's thoughts.
"I miss playing for my country," Cole told the Guardian. "I was a regular in the squad for 10 years and perhaps took it for granted I would always be there.
"Now, having not been picked for a year, turning 30 next month and with the young players having come in and done well, you start to wonder: 'Are they still looking at me?
"I hope I will be noticed. A lot of people in England questioned why I came over here and maybe wrote me off. Perhaps they're now thinking I'm not finished after all.
"It's not that I want to prove them wrong – that would be the wrong motivation – but I do want to prove to myself that I'm still a top player."
Capello has until the end of the season to assess who he will take to Euro 2012, but with the news that Waye Rooney will be suspended for the first three games, England may well need another creative attacker.
Cole could well be the man to give England that creative spark and should his good form in France continue then a call from Capello could soon be coming his way.
Connect with Sportsvibe by joining our social media network. Join the debate to get your voice heard and stay informed with up-to-the-minute news, videos, competitions and articles from the world of sport.
Follow us on Twitter: @sportsvibe_says and @sportsvibe
Follow us on Facebook: Sportsvibe Says
